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Malaysia is unusual in that some areas, tin and limestone are found together. In countries such as England, tin occurs in areas quite separate from limestone.
In Malaysia tin is found in some limestone areas, having been washed down from the granite ranges. These tin-bearing granites generally date to the Mesozoic era. The tin-bearing alluvium was possibly trapped by the buried karst and accumulated in rich deposits. Notable examples are in Perak and Perlis.
Tin mining is one of Malaysia's oldest and most successful industries. In the 1600's, this industry was beginning to thrive in Kedah, Perak and Selangor. In the heyday of tin mining in the mid 19th century Perak was one of the most active areas. There was an increased demand for tin by Chinese and Europeans and at the same time, extensive and rich deposits of tin were found in Perak and Selangor. With the arrival of labour from China and influx of capital, the tin industry rapidly expanded to become the largest in the world. More than 3000 Chinese arrived annually to work the mines.
PERAK
There are examples of tin-ore in limestone in Perak, mostly seen in the mines of the Kinta Valley. The Kinta Valley was the largest producer of tin ore in the world in the first half of the 20th century. Most of the workings were open cast, and remains of these sites can still be seen today, although there are not many active workings now. A dredge can be seen near Tanjung Tualang, see below.
The SUN 2 June 2008 reported that Perak may reopen mining land and issue permits for the development of the mining industry, as the world market price of tin had soared to record levels. Tin is now US$20,000 a tonne. The article went on to say that "Perak holds great potential in tapping natural limestone caves which are used as temples, granite features, and former mining pools like Gunung Lang which can all be repacked for geoconservation and geotourism".
full article
Known caves which were worked for tin at Gunung Lanno were surveyed on the Lanno 2001 expedition. These include :
Gua Puncak 18/40
The cave turned out to be the biggest and longest found in Lanno. It has one enormous chamber, which we estimate to be the second largest chamber in Peninsular Malaysia, after Alam Chamber in Gua Tempurung. It is 190m long, 60m wide and more than 80m high. Although Gua Puncak is a natural cave it has been mined for tin, but I can find no mining records for this site. The cave length is 1584m. The entrance passages are small but have been enlarged by the miners. There are two underground lakes, presumably created by mining activities. Various mining relics can still be seen - parts of a palong, a concrete dam, and some tools, light bulbs. In April 2006 quarrying partly blocked the entrances to Gua Puncak and the cave was in danger of being lost forever.
Gua Gatsch 18/23
The only river cave in Gunung Lanno, this natural cave has been enlarged by tin miners to install a water pipe through the cave. As a result of mining, the cave has a layer of gooey mud kneedeep in places.
Gua Portal 18/38
A through cave which has been worked for tin.
Another Kinta Valley cave which has been mined is Six Mile Tunnel. This is located near Sunway City in Ipoh, by Gunung Datuk. A large housing estate is being built in the valley, and the swamp in front of the cave has been partially filled in, affecting the water level in the cave entrance. And now there is a possibility that there will no longer be free access soon, as the cave may be used for commercial tours. (end 2006).
Entrance passage, note shot hole on right |
Walls built by miners in Six Mile Tunnel |
mining relic! |
PERLIS
Many of the natural caves in Perlis have been dug extensively for tin, although are no longer worked. The caves in the Setul Mountain Range in Perlis are different from those found in the rest of Peninsula Malaysia as they have great depth and also have rivers flowing through them. There are flooded chambers, underground lakes, calcite formations, as well as manmade remains of old railway lines, engine rooms, wooden walkways, steps carved into rock, as well as smaller mining artifacts.
Gua Kelam 2
The second longest cave in Peninsular Malaysia at 3748m. A river cave with some huge natural chambers and lots of relics from the mining era. Currently being turned into a show cave.
Gua Kelam 1
Gua Kelam is a tunnel through the hill used as a short cut by the miners.
There are several other caves which have been worked for tin, in 1960 there were at least 25 mines in operation.
Visiting the cave mines in Perlis is something like stepping into an Indiana Jones film. There are old railway lines, some of which are suspended over deep drops, others are across deep pools. Many are covered with glutinous mud, others are literally hanging by a thread. There are hooks protruding from the walls and cables lying all over the place. Large metal pipes and sluice gates, stone walls built to dump waste spoil behind, and old machinery all add to the scene. The rate of deposition of calcite is rather quick in the Tropics, and many of the mining relices are already covered in calcite. Some of the wooden props are covered with fungus.
For a more detailed report, see ACG expedition
Working in the cave mines was potentially dangerous and accidents occured, resulting in deaths. Many people believe there are spirits in the cave, and offerings are made to them (fruit, cake, drinks).
Wooden ladder & cables covered in calcite, Gua Kelam 2 |
offerings to cave spirits |
Metal pipes covered in calcite, Gua Kelam 2 |
Gua Kelam 1 entrance |
caver negotiating a slippery, muddy wooden plank across a deep pool |
TIN DREDGES
Although this has nothing to do with caves, I find tin mining to be an interesting subject. Sadly there are only about three tin dredges left in the country, 2 in Selangor (which can be seen when flying in/out from KLIA) and 1 in Perak. The latter is at Chenderong, near Tanjung Tualang. In 2005 there were plans to save the dredge and turn it into a tourist museum. Work began but the project was never completed. Then in Apr 2007 similar plans were revived. The dredge finally opened to the public in Feb 2008, and packages include guided tours – inside the dredge, a trip to a tin mining museum and later there will be movies on how the 4,500 tonne giant works.
entering the dredge |
dredge at Tanjung Tualang |
the jigs |
© Liz Price 2007
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